Means for loading automatic photographic apparatus.



N0.'703.|54. Patented Sept. 2, 1902.

e. N. PIFER.

MEANS FOR LOADING AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS.

(Application filed Oct 25, 1901.

(No Model.

WITNESSES [N NTOR. Y 8.1%? A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE N. PIFER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN AUTOMATICPHOTOGRAPH COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COR- PORATION OF OHIO.

MEANS FOR LOADING AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 708,164, datedSeptember 2, 1902.

Application filed October 25,1901. Serial No. 79,994. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE N. PIFER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Cleveland, county of Ouyahoga, and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Means for Loading AutomaticPhotographic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, theprinciple of the invention beingherein explained and the best mode inwhich I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguishit from other inventions.

My invention relates to means for loading photographic apparatus withsensitized plates, and is particularly adapted for use inautomaticallyoperated apparatus of such character. The object of suchinvention is to provide means for packing and transporting sensitizedplates, whereby a plurality of such plates may be readily placed in acamera and exposed as desired, at the same time providing a receptaclecapable of continued and indefinite employment.

Theinvention consists of means hereinafter fully described, andspecifically set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mech anism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principleof the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I represents an elevation of a deviceembodying my invention. Fig. II represents a sectional view of same,showing also adjacent parts of a photographic apparatus to which it isapplied. Fig. III represents a sectional detail View of a closure usedin said invention detached; and Fig. IV represents a sectional View ofthe lower portion of the invention, showing adjacent photographicapparatus parts and illustratingthe closure in the bottom thereof in theact of being ejected from the plate-receptacle.

A cylindrical tube A is provided at each end with a light-tight closureand forms a holder or receptacle for a column B, consistin g of aplurality of sensitized plates which it is desired to feed to thephotographic apparatus. The upper closure 0 consists of a cup-shaped capsnugly fitting, lighttight, and slidable upon the outside of the upperend of tube A. The lower end of the tube is closed by a plug D,consisting of a rubber disk (Z, having a centrally-located andinwardly-projecting non-llexible teat d, preferably made of wood or hardrubber, secured thereto, as illustrated in Fig. III. The diameter of therubber disk is somewhat in excess of that of the interior of the tube,forming thereby a light-tight joint, the flexibility of the peripheralportion making it possible, however, to readily insert the plug in suchinterior. To obtain increased flexibility and insure a light-tightcontact of such peripheral portion, the disk is made frusto-conical, asshown. The diameter of the teat is, as shown, made considerably lessthan that of the disk for a purpose which will further appear. Thebottom of the column B of plates rests upon the teat (1 when thereceptacle is loaded, the frictional contact of the disk causing it toengage the tube sufficiently to effect the support of the column.Intermediately ofthe top of the column and the adjacentinner bottomsurface of the cap O and contacting such bottom and the top of thecolumnis placed a detached ball E, having a diameter considerablygreater than tlfe distance of the top of the column from the plane tothe top of the tube and which acts as a separator for maintaining,before the device is applied to the photographic apparatus, a distancebetween such cap-bottom and the top of the tube.

The device, as above described and illustrated in Fig. II, is capable ofbeing transported from place to place without injuring or exposing theplates therein and is ready to be inserted into a photographicapparatus, the relevant parts of which are illustrated in said figure.Such parts are embodied in an automatically-operated photographicapparatus of myinvention, the principles of which are shown anddescribed in an application filed by me for United States Letters PatentOctober 3, 1900, Serial No. 31,920, and upon an improved form of which Iintend to make separate application for Letters Patent of the UnitedStates. Such device embodies an upright tube F, connected with theautomatic apparatus, Fig. II, adapted to receive the tube A and at thebottom of which is a slot g, formed in the supporting frame-plate G,into which the plates may be caused to drop from the plate-holder andthrough which they may be automatically removed laterally from beneaththe tubes F and A by means of suitable mechanism (not shown) embodied inthe photographic apparatus Beneath plate G is a second plate H, having acentral aperture h of a diameter sufficient to permit the plug D to beforced through it, at the same time prohibiting the passage therethroughof one of the sensitized plates. Such aperture is located centrallyrelatively to tube F, as shown.

In operating the above-described device the loaded holder is shoved downinto tube F and over slot g and aperture h. Cap 0 is then shoved down,thereby moving the column of plates downwardly and ejecting plugD fromthe bottom of the holder, which upon further downward movement issqueezed through aperture h and is thus removed from the slot g. Thisaction permits the lowermost plate to drop into said slot into positionto be removed laterally as required. Each such removal permits the nextplate above to drop into the position of its predecessor. The ball thuspasses downwardly through tube A, and finally, on the removal of thelast plate, drops through the aperture h and is caused by its momentumto operate means to indicate upon the exterior of the apparatus theexhaustion of the supply of plates, its diameter being made such topermit such passage. Such indicating apparatus will be shown, described,and claimed in my above-named prospective application.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the meansherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention- 1. Means for loading photographic apparatus, comprising thecombination of a receptacle adapted to carry a column of photographicplates, a removable closure at one end of said receptacle, and meansembodied in said receptacle for removing such closure.

2. Means for loading photographic apparatus comprising the combinationof a receptacle, adapted to carry a column of photographic plates, aremovable closure at one end of said receptacle, and means embodied insaid receptacle for moving said column of plates in said receptacle,whereby said closure may be removed.

3. Means for loading photographic apparatus comprising the combinationof a receptacle, adapted to carry a colu mn of photographic plates, aremovable closure at one end of said receptacle, and a movable cap atits opposite end whereby said closure may be removed by the movement ofsaid cap when a column of plates is in said receptacle.

4. Means for loading photographic apparatus, comprising the combinationof a receptacle adapted to carry a column of photographic plates, aremovable closure at one end of said receptacle having a flexibleperipheral portion, and means embodied in said receptacle for removingsaid closure.

5. Means for loading photographic apparatus, comprising the combinationof a receptacle adapted to carry a column of photographic plates, aremovable closure at one end of said receptacle, and a movable cap atits other end whereby said column may be removed by the movement of saidcap when a column of plates is in said receptacle.

6. Means for loading photographic apparatus, comprising the combinationof a receptacle, adapted to carry a column of photographic plates, aremovable closure at one end of said receptacle, a movable cap at itsother end, and a separator adapted to rest intermediately of said capand said column. of plates, whereby said closure may be removed by themovement of said cap when a column of plates is in said receptacle.

7. In means for loadingphotographic apparatus,the combination of areceptacle adapted to carry a column of photographic plates, a movablecap at one end of said receptacle and a detached member adapted to restintermediately of said cap and a column of plates, and adapted to passthrough said receptacle.

8. In means forloadingphotographic apparatus, a receptacle adapted tocarry a column of photographic plates, a removable lighttight closureadapted to fit within the interior of one end of said receptacle, amovable cap at the other end of said receptacle and means embodied insaid receptacle for removing said closure.

Signed by me this 22d day of October, 1901.

GEORGE N. PIFER.

Attest:

A. E. MERKEL, D. T. DAVIES.

